Suicidal tendencies

>> The Terrorist examines the human face of the mad bomber

by MARK SLUTSKY

Thank heavens for movie stars like John Malkovich, who use their celebrity status, and its attendant clout, to call attention to much less well-known artists. Malkovich, impressed by Santosh Sivan's feature debut, The Terrorist, at the Cairo Film Festival, is "presenting" it in North America--in other words, lending his star power to ensure the picture gets distributed. Which is good news for moviegoers, since The Terrorist is a terrific film. It's not a huge movie--there are few characters and it's shot almost entirely on location--but it's expertly made, and endures in the consciousness long after the final credits roll.

The Terrorist is essentially the story of the few days leading up to a suicide bombing. The film focuses almost exclusively on the bomber herself, Malli, played with remarkable clarity and intensity by Ayesha Dharkar. When we first see Dharkar, she's killing--first the execution of a traitor within the group, then leading an assault during a gunfight. Amazingly, from this brutal beginning, Dharkar emerges as a sympathetic, terribly human character. Sent to live with a farmer near the site where the assassination will take place, she begins to question the dogma she's clearly lived with all of her life. She becomes less of a soldier, more of a beleaguered person caught up in insane circumstances beyond any reasonable hope of control.

Nothing much actually happens in this movie--don't go expecting wild action--but nonetheless, it is utterly compelling. Much credit must go to Dharkar, whose performance is amazing. The camera is clearly in love with her; she's got an unusual beauty and a unique, incredibly expressive face. The direction, too, is smart and understated and is helped by the film's clear, naturalistic cinematography.

Sivan has said that the story of The Terrorist is based on the assassination of Rajiv Ghandi, but there are few specifics; we never actually see the terrorist leader's face and the rebels' doctrine is never explained in detail, beyond the insinuation that it is nationalistic in character. The exact details, of course, are not important--this is meant to be an examination of terrorism and the circumstances that would lead someone to willingly commit suicide for a political ideal. It succeeds beautifully as an exploration of violence. More than that, it's a superb film that's tense and riveting. It's easy to see what Malkovich saw in the film--don't miss the chance to see it yourself. :

The Terrorist opens Friday, Sept. 22 at Cinéma du Parc